DC bus voltage control

ABSTRACT

Provided is a method and controller for controlling a vehicle dc bus voltage. The method includes generating a parameter. The parameter is based on a reference dc bus voltage squared. The method includes controlling the vehicle dc bus voltage based on the parameter and a detected dc bus voltage. The method may also include generating another parameter based on a power demand associated with at least one of a motoring mode operation and a generating mode operation of a traction motor associated with the vehicle. The power demand is indicated in a message received via a dedicated high speed data bus. The method includes controlling the vehicle dc bus voltage based on the another parameter.

PRIORITY

This application is a divisional application of and claims priorityunder 35 U.S.C. §120/121 to U.S. application Ser. No. 13/036,765 filedFeb. 28, 2011, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporatedherein by reference.

FIELD

Embodiments relate to controlling a dc bus voltage vehicle electricdrive system.

BACKGROUND

Vehicles (e.g., automobiles, tractors and excavators) often includeelectrical applications (e.g., electric drives). A dc bus voltage may beregulated by controlling a generator. Typically the generator is drivenby a diesel engine running at a constant speed. The established dc busvoltage may then provide electric power to many motoring applications onthe vehicle.

Typically the diesel engine and the generator each have an associatedcontroller. The generator controller receives a control signal (e.g., atorque control signal) to indicate a manner by which the controllershould be controlling the generator. For example, the control signal mayindicate a steady-state, an increased demand or a decreased demand. Thediesel engine controller maintains a shaft speed of the generator. Inthis way the generator maintain a desired dc bus voltage.

Further, if the electrical motor is configured as a drive motor (e.g., atraction motor) the motor may also operate to charge the vehicle dc busduring a vehicle regenerative braking period. Regenerative braking is anenergy recovery mechanism which slows the vehicle 100 down by convertingthe vehicle's 100 kinetic energy into another form (e.g., electricenergy), which can be either dissipated immediately across crow barresistor or stored until needed. The energy recovered may be used tomaintain a desired dc bus voltage as well.

SUMMARY

One embodiment includes a method of controlling a vehicle dc busvoltage. The method includes generating a first parameter. The firstparameter is based on a reference dc bus voltage squared. The methodincludes controlling the vehicle dc bus voltage based on the firstparameter and a detected dc bus voltage.

Another embodiment includes a method of controlling a vehicle dc busvoltage. The method includes generating a first parameter based on ademand associated with at least one of a motoring mode operation and agenerating mode operation of a traction motor associated with thevehicle. The demand is indicated in a message received via a dedicatedhigh speed data bus. The method includes controlling the vehicle dc busvoltage based on the first parameter.

Another embodiment includes a controller for controlling a vehicle dcbus voltage. The controller includes a first module configured togenerate a first parameter. The first parameter is based on a referencedc bus voltage squared. The controller includes a voltage controllerconfigured to control the vehicle dc bus voltage based on the firstparameter and a detected dc bus voltage.

Another embodiment includes a controller for controlling a vehicle dcbus voltage. The controller includes an interface configured to generatea first parameter based on a power demand associated with at least oneof a motoring mode operation and a generating mode operation of atraction motor associated with the vehicle. The power demand isindicated in a message received via a dedicated high speed data bus. Thefirst parameter is used to control the vehicle dc bus voltage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from thedetailed description given herein below and the accompanying drawings,wherein like elements are represented by like reference numerals, whichare given by way of illustration only and thus are not limiting of thepresent invention and wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a vehicle according to example embodiments.

FIG. 2 illustrates a controller according to example embodiments.

FIG. 3 illustrates a feed forward module according to exampleembodiments.

FIG. 4 illustrates a method of determining a feed forward torque valueaccording to example embodiments.

FIG. 5 illustrates a PI control module according to example embodiments.

FIG. 6 illustrates a method of determining a PI control torque valueaccording to example embodiments.

FIG. 7 illustrates a method of generating a torque value to control a dcbus voltage according to example embodiments.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of an example embodiment of a system forcontrolling an electrical motor.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of an electronic data processing systemconsistent with FIG. 8.

It should be noted that these Figures are intended to illustrate thegeneral characteristics of methods, structure and/or materials utilizedin certain example embodiments and to supplement the written descriptionprovided below. These drawings are not, however, to scale and may notprecisely reflect the precise structural or performance characteristicsof any given embodiment, and should not be interpreted as defining orlimiting the range of values or properties encompassed by exampleembodiments. For example, the relative thicknesses and positioning ofmolecules, layers, regions and/or structural elements may be reduced orexaggerated for clarity. The use of similar or identical referencenumbers in the various drawings is intended to indicate the presence ofa similar or identical element or feature.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

While example embodiments are capable of various modifications andalternative forms, embodiments thereof are shown by way of example inthe drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should beunderstood, however, that there is no intent to limit exampleembodiments to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary,example embodiments are to cover all modifications, equivalents, andalternatives falling within the scope of the claims. Like numbers referto like elements throughout the description of the figures.

Before discussing example embodiments in more detail, it is noted thatsome example embodiments are described as processes or methods depictedas flowcharts. Although the flowcharts describe the operations assequential processes, many of the operations may be performed inparallel, concurrently or simultaneously. In addition, the order ofoperations may be re-arranged. The processes may be terminated whentheir operations are completed, but may also have additional steps notincluded in the figure. The processes may correspond to methods,functions, procedures, subroutines, subprograms, etc.

Methods discussed below, some of which are illustrated by the flowcharts, may be implemented by hardware, software, firmware, middleware,microcode, hardware description languages, or any combination thereof.When implemented in software, firmware, middleware or microcode, theprogram code or code segments to perform the necessary tasks may bestored in a machine or computer readable medium such as a storagemedium. A processor(s) may perform the necessary tasks.

Specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are merelyrepresentative for purposes of describing example embodiments of thepresent invention. This invention may, however, be embodied in manyalternate forms and should not be construed as limited to only theembodiments set forth herein.

It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. maybe used herein to describe various elements, these elements should notbe limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish oneelement from another. For example, a first element could be termed asecond element, and, similarly, a second element could be termed a firstelement, without departing from the scope of example embodiments. Asused herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of oneor more of the associated listed items.

It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being“connected” or “coupled” to another element, it can be directlyconnected or coupled to the other element or intervening elements may bepresent. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directlyconnected” or “directly coupled” to another element, there are nointervening elements present. Other words used to describe therelationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion(e.g., “between” versus “directly between,” “adjacent” versus “directlyadjacent,” etc.).

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of exampleembodiments. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” areintended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearlyindicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms“comprises,” “comprising,” “includes” and/or “including,” when usedherein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps,operations, elements and/or components, but do not preclude the presenceor addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations,elements, components and/or groups thereof.

It should also be noted that in some alternative implementations, thefunctions/acts noted may occur out of the order noted in the figures.For example, two figures shown in succession may in fact be executedconcurrently or may sometimes be executed in the reverse order,depending upon the functionality/acts involved.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientificterms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by oneof ordinary skill in the art to which example embodiments belong. Itwill be further understood that terms, e.g., those defined in commonlyused dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that isconsistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art andwill not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unlessexpressly so defined herein.

Portions of the example embodiments and corresponding detaileddescription are presented in terms of software, or algorithms andsymbolic representations of operation on data bits within a computermemory. These descriptions and representations are the ones by whichthose of ordinary skill in the art effectively convey the substance oftheir work to others of ordinary skill in the art. An algorithm, as theterm is used here, and as it is used generally, is conceived to be aself-consistent sequence of steps leading to a desired result. The stepsare those requiring physical manipulations of physical quantities.Usually, though not necessarily, these quantities take the form ofoptical, electrical, or magnetic signals capable of being stored,transferred, combined, compared, and otherwise manipulated. It hasproven convenient at times, principally for reasons of common usage, torefer to these signals as bits, values, elements, symbols, characters,terms, numbers, or the like.

In the following description, illustrative embodiments will be describedwith reference to acts and symbolic representations of operations (e.g.,in the form of flowcharts) that may be implemented as program modules orfunctional processes include routines, programs, objects, components,data structures, etc., that perform particular tasks or implementparticular abstract data types and may be implemented using existinghardware at existing network elements. Such existing hardware mayinclude one or more Central Processing Units (CPUs), digital signalprocessors (DSPs), application-specific-integrated-circuits, fieldprogrammable gate arrays (FPGAs) computers or the like.

It should be borne in mind, however, that all of these and similar termsare to be associated with the appropriate physical quantities and aremerely convenient labels applied to these quantities. Unlessspecifically stated otherwise, or as is apparent from the discussion,terms such as “processing” or “computing” or “calculating” or“determining” of “displaying” or the like, refer to the action andprocesses of a computer system, or similar electronic computing device,that manipulates and transforms data represented as physical, electronicquantities within the computer system's registers and memories intoother data similarly represented as physical quantities within thecomputer system memories or registers or other such information storage,transmission or display devices.

Note also that the software implemented aspects of the exampleembodiments are typically encoded on some form of program storage mediumor implemented over some type of transmission medium. The programstorage medium may be magnetic (e.g., a floppy disk or a hard drive) oroptical (e.g., a compact disk read only memory, or “CD ROM”), and may beread only or random access. Similarly, the transmission medium may betwisted wire pairs, coaxial cable, optical fiber, or some other suitabletransmission medium known to the art. The example embodiments notlimited by these aspects of any given implementation.

As described above, vehicles (e.g., automobiles, tractors andexcavators) often include electrical applications (e.g., electric drivesincluding traction motor and generator). A dc bus voltage may beregulated by controlling a generator in a braking mode and/or motoringmode.

There are three major reasons to maintain the stability of dc busvoltage with small voltage oscillation and sufficiently fast responsetime. First, a traction motor often requires a large amount of powerwith fast dynamic load change. If vehicle dc bus voltage dropssignificantly, even during a period of transient voltage, traction motorcurrent regulation (at high speed deep flux weakening region) may beshort of voltage and lead to a failure of a motor controller associatedwith the traction motor.

Second, if an interior permanent magnet (IPM) machine is used as agenerator and the IPM machine may be run at high speeds, a fluxweakening region may result. The IPM machine torque generatingcapability may also be limited by dc bus voltage variations. If the dcbus voltage is decreasing due to high load demand, a controllerassociated with the IPM machine (generator) may not be able to recoverthe dc bus voltage level.

Finally, when a dc bus voltage exceeds a preset threshold value, brakechopper IGBT (a known mechanism for protecting controller hardware) maybe turned on to dissipate power into a crow bar resistor in order toavoid an overvoltage condition on the dc bus.

FIG. 1 illustrates a vehicle 100 according to at least one exampleembodiment. As shown in FIG. 1 the vehicle 100 may include a generator105, a traction motor 110, a dual inverter 115 and a controller 130. Thedual inverter 115 may include inverters 120 and 125.

The vehicle 100 may be for example, an automobile, a hybrid automobile,a tractor, an excavator, and the like. The generator 105 may be a3-phase ac generator. The generator 105 may include a rotor attached toa diesel engine shaft (not shown) or a gasoline engine shaft (notshown), may or may not through a gear box. The motor 110 may be a3-phase ac motor. The motor 110 may be a traction motor. The motor 110may drive, for example, a wheel, a track or some other drive mechanism(not shown) via a mechanical drive shaft associated with the vehicle100.

The dual inverter 115 may convert an ac voltage to a dc voltage and/or adc voltage to an ac voltage. Inverter 120 may convert an ac voltageassociated with the generator 105 a dc voltage to control a dc voltageassociated with common dc bus 150. For example, the generator 105generates an ac voltage. The inverter 120 converts the ac voltage into adc voltage. The inverted dc voltage is applied to dc bus 150 which inturn provides dc voltage (and power) to the electrical applications(e.g., motor 110) throughout the vehicle 100. For example, inverter 125may convert the dc bus voltage associated with dc bus 150 to an acvoltage to drive motor 110 for traction purposes.

In addition, for example, the motor 110 may feed power back to a commondc bus 150 during a vehicle regenerative braking period. Regenerativebraking is an energy recovery mechanism which slows the vehicle 100 byconverting the vehicle's 100 kinetic energy into another form (e.g.,electric energy), which can be either used immediately or stored untilneeded. Regenerative braking is known to those skilled in the art andwill not be described further for the sake of brevity. The energyrecovered may be used to maintain a desired dc bus voltage at dc bus150. This may be achieved by running generator 105 in motoring mode totransmit power back to the engine.

The dual inverter 115 may also convert a dc voltage to an ac voltage.Each of the inverters 120 and 125 may convert a dc voltage associatedwith a dc bus 150 to an ac voltage for use by the generator 105 and themotor 110. For example, the ac voltage may be applied to the stator ofthe generator 105 and the motor 110. Application of the ac voltage tothe generator 105 and the motor 110 is known to those skilled in the artand will not be described further for the sake of brevity. The ac powermay be transferred to and from the generator 105 and the motor 110 viamachine phase leads 135 a and 135 b respectively.

Controller 130 may be a dc bus controller as described in more detailwith regard to FIGS. 2-4. However, example embodiments are not limitedthereto. A dedicated high speed bus 140 a, 140 b may communicateinformation associated with the generator 105 and the motor 110 tocontroller 130. For example, the dedicated high speed bus 140 a, 140 bmay be a high speed controller area network (CAN) bus, a serialperipheral interface (SPI) bus and an Ethernet bus. For example, thededicated high speed bus 140 a, 140 b may communicate a demandassociated with the generator 105 and/or the motor 110. For example, thedemand may be a power demand associated with the motor 110.

In describing the example embodiments, there may be various referencesto parameters, commands or controls. The parameters, commands orcontrols may be voltages, digital values, signals and the like. Thevoltages, digital values and signals may correspond to motor and/orgenerator conditions and or ratings. For example, a voltage value maycorrespond to a generator speed in mechanical rad/sec. For example, adigital value may correspond to a current torque condition associatedwith a motor in Newton-meters (N-m).

DC Bus Voltage Controller

FIG. 2 illustrates a controller 200 according to at least one exampleembodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the controller may include a feedforward module 225, a proportional integral (PI) control module 230, asumming module 235 and a torque limit module 240. The controller 200 maybe, for example the controller 130 shown in FIG. 1. However, exampleembodiments are not limited thereto. The controller 200 may beconfigured to control a dc bus voltage. For example, the controller 200may be configured to generate a torque parameter or command for avehicle generator (e.g., generator 105) to control the dc bus voltage.

The following description of a controller (e.g., controller 200) willbegin with a description of feed forward control regarding FIGS. 3 and4. The description will continue with a description of PI controlreferring to FIGS. 5 and 6. The description will conclude by returningto the controller of FIG. 2 and the flowchart of FIG. 7.

Feed Forward Control

To improve the dynamic response of dc bus voltage control, motor power(e.g., a traction motor) may be fed forward through dedicatedcommunication path (e.g., high speed CAN, SPI, Ethernet, etc.) to acontroller associated with the generator (e.g., generator 105).Generated torque associated with the motor (e.g., motor 110) shouldclosely match the motors' torque command. Therefore, the product of themotor torque command, motoring or braking, and the motor mechanicalspeed may be a good representation of dc bus consumption power orregeneration power associated with the traction motor.

Any step change in the torque command from a vehicle controller may passthrough slew limiter and secondary torque limiting blocks before thetorque command can be converted to subsequent dq-axis current controlcommands for a generator. Therefore, the feed forward values should notbe calculated based on vehicle controller torque command, which may havea relatively large step change and slow update rate. Instead, the feedforward power calculation may be synchronized with a torque control loopexecution rate and based on the output from torque control loop, whichhas been processed by slew limiter and secondary torque limiting blocksin a traction motor controller.

As shown in FIG. 2, the feed forward module 225 may receive inputinformation related to at least one of a vehicle generator (e.g.,generator 105) and a vehicle motor (e.g., motor 110). The informationmay indicate a demand associated with the vehicle generator and/or thevehicle motor. For example, the demand may be a torque demand associatedwith the motor 110. The information may be received via a dedicated highspeed bus 205. For example, the dedicated high speed bus may be one ofdedicated high speed bus 140 a or 140 b. For example, the dedicated highspeed bus 205 may be a high speed controller area network (CAN) bus, aserial peripheral interface (SPI) bus and an Ethernet bus. The feedforward module 205 will be described in more detail with regard to FIG.3.

FIG. 3 illustrates a feed forward module 225 according to at least oneexample embodiment. The feed forward module 225 may include an interface305, a power limitation module 310, a product module 315 and acomputational module 325. The feed forward module 225 may be configuredto generate a forward torque control parameter or command based on atleast one of a demand received via the high speed dedicated bus 205, amechanical speed 330, a torque sign adjustment 330 and a power usagecoefficient. As described above with regard to FIG. 2, the forwardtorque control parameter or command may be an input to the summingmodule 235.

The interface 305 receives a message via the high speed dedicated bus205. The message may include an indication of the demand. The demand maybe, for example, a torque demand associated with the motor 110. Forexample, a user of the vehicle may adjust a pedal, adjust a lever orturn a switch to change a demand associated with motor 110.

The message may be associated with a protocol supported by one of a highspeed controller area network (CAN) bus, a serial peripheral interface(SPI) bus and an Ethernet bus. The message may include one or more datapackets. One of the data packets may include an indication of thedemand.

For example, the data packet may include a digital variable that theinterface 305 may use to determine a change in demand. The digitalvariable may indicate one of an increase or a decrease in demand as wellas an amount of increase or decrease. The digital variable may alsoindicate an absolute demand. The interface 305 may determine and outputa parameter or control value based the demand.

The power limitation module 310 may limit the determined parameter orcontrol value output by the interface 305. The power limitation module310 may limit the determined parameter or control value based on a powerlimitation of a vehicle generator (e.g., generator 105). For example,the power limitation module 310 may clip the determined parameter orcontrol value if the determined parameter or control value is above aset value. For example, assume generator 105 has a maximum power ratingof 50 kilowatts and a parameter or control value of 10 volts isrepresentative of 50 kilowatts. If the parameter or control value is 15volts, the power limitation module 310 may clip the parameter or controlvalue to 10 volts.

In addition, the power limitation module 310 may limit the determinedparameter or control value based on a motoring mode operation and agenerating mode operation of the generator 105. For example, in themotoring mode operation the generator 105 may have a maximum powerrating of 30 kilowatts and in the generating mode operation thegenerator 105 may have a maximum power rating of 50 kilowatts. The powerlimitation module 310 may limit the parameter or control value (e.g.,representative voltage) accordingly.

The product module 315 may adjust the limited parameter or control valuebased on the power usage coefficient 320. The power usage coefficient320 may be based on at least one of the motor operating mode, thegenerator operating mode, a dc bus voltage level associated with themotor and a generator associated with the vehicle and a test performanceindication associated with at least one of the motor and the generator.For example, the product module 315 may multiply the limited parameteror control value by the power usage coefficient 320.

The power usage coefficient 320 setting controls how much feed forwardpower will be used in voltage feed forward control. The power usagecoefficient 320 may have different settings when a motor (e.g., motor110) is running in motoring mode or regeneration mode. In addition, thepower usage coefficient 320 may also be set with different coefficientswith respect to dc bus voltage level. Setting of the power usagecoefficient 320 is a design choice and may even be optional. The powerusage coefficient 320 may be application dependent per system testingperformance as well.

For example, based on system testing the motor 110 may be 90% efficientwhen in the motoring mode. Therefore, the power usage coefficient 320may be set to 0.9. However, the motor 110 may be 80% efficient when inthe regeneration mode. Therefore, the power usage coefficient 320 may beset to 0.8. In addition, if the dc bus voltage level is 10% high, thepower usage coefficient 320 may be set to 1.1 and 0.9 for each moderespectively. Further, if the dc bus voltage level is 10% low, the powerusage coefficient 320 may be set to 0.9 and 0.7 for each moderespectively. Other settings for the power usage coefficient 320 can bereasonable determined by one skilled in the art.

The computation module 325 may determine the forward torque controlparameter or command based on the output of the product module 315, themechanical speed 330 and the torque sign adjustment 335. The mechanicalspeed 330 may be a rotational shaft speed associated with at least oneof the motoring mode and the generating mode of the vehicle generator(e.g., generator 105). The torque sign adjustment 335 may be a rotationdirection associated with at least one of the motoring mode and thegenerating mode of the generator (e.g., generator 105).

For example, the computation module 325 may determine the forward torquecontrol parameter or command by multiplying the output of the productmodule 315 by the torque sign adjustment 335 and divide the result bythe mechanical speed 330. The determined forward torque controlparameter or command is then output by the feed forward module 225. Thecomputation module 325 may determine the forward torque controlparameter or command based on the following equation:

$\begin{matrix}{{T_{FF} = \frac{R_{pm} \times {TS}}{\omega_{gen}}},} & {{Equation}\mspace{14mu} 1}\end{matrix}$

-   -   where,    -   T_(FF) is the forward torque control parameter or command,    -   R_(pm) is the output of the product module 315,    -   TS is the torque sign 335, and    -   ω_(gen) is the mechanical speed 330.

If, in the generator controller, the feed forward motor power value ispositive, the generator may provide braking power to boost dc busvoltage. Otherwise, the generator may run in a motoring mode to reducedc bus voltage. The sign of feed forward torque is dependent ongenerator speed and summarized below in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Traction Traction motor motor feed Generator running forwardrunning mode power mode ω_(gen) < 0 ω_(gen) > 0 Traction P_(mot) < 0Generator T_(feedforward) < 0 T_(feedforward) > 0 motor needsregenerating motoring and limited by its motoring power limit TractionP_(mot) > 0 Generator T_(feedforward) > 0 T_(feedforward) < 0 motorneeds motoring braking and limited by its braking power limit

-   -   where,    -   P_(mot) is the motor (e.g., motor 110) feed forward power,    -   ω_(gen) is the rotational rate of the generator (e.g., the        rotational speed of the generator shaft), and    -   T_(feedforward) is the forward torque.

FIG. 4 illustrates a method of determining a feed forward torque valueaccording to at least one example embodiment. The example embodimentdescribed below with regard to FIG. 4 is described with regard to FIGS.1-3 above. However, example embodiments are not limited thereto.Further, the example embodiment described below refers to controller 200as illustrated in FIG. 2. However, example embodiments are not limitedthereto.

Referring to FIG. 4, in step S405 a controller 200 receives a messagevia a dedicated high speed bus, the message including informationrelated to a power demand for a vehicle traction motor. For example, asdescribed above with regard to FIG. 3, the interface 305 receives amessage via the high speed dedicated bus 205. The message may include anindication of the demand. The demand may be, for example, a power demandassociated with the motor 110. The message may be associated with aprotocol supported by one of a high speed controller area network (CAN)bus, a serial peripheral interface (SPI) bus and an Ethernet bus. Themessage may include one or more data packets. One of the data packetsmay include an indication of the demand.

Referring to FIG. 4, in step S410 the controller 200 determines a demandparameter based a power associated with the torque demand for thevehicle traction motor. For example, as described above with regard toFIG. 3, the data packet may include a digital variable that theinterface 305 may use to determine a change in demand. The digitalvariable may indicate one of an increase or a decrease in demand as wellas an amount of increase or decrease. The digital variable may alsoindicate an absolute demand. The interface 305 may determine and outputa parameter or control value based the demand.

In step S415 the controller 200 limits the demand parameter based on apower capability of a motoring mode or a generating mode of a vehiclegenerator. For example, as described above with regard to FIG. 3, thepower limitation module 310 may limit the determined demand parameterbased on a power limitation of a vehicle generator. For example, thepower limitation module 310 may clip the determined demand parameter ifthe determined parameter or control value is above a set value.

In step S420 the controller 200 determines a usage parameter based on apower usage coefficient. For example, as described above with regard toFIG. 3, the power usage coefficient 320 may be based on at least one ofa motor (e.g., motor 110) operating mode, a generator (e.g., generator105) operating mode, a dc bus voltage level associated with the motorand a generator associated with the vehicle and a test performanceindication associated with at least one of the motor and the generator.

In step S425 the controller 200 determines a modified demand parameterbased on the demand parameter and the usage parameter to determine amodified demand parameter. For example, as described above with regardto FIG. 3, the product module 315 may multiply the limited demandparameter or control value by the power usage coefficient 320.

In step S430 the controller 200 determines a speed parameter based onthe vehicle generator mechanical speed. For example, as described abovewith regard to FIG. 3, the mechanical speed 330 may be a rotationalshaft speed associated with at least one of the motoring mode and thegenerating mode of the vehicle generator (e.g., generator 105).

In step S435 the controller 200 determines a sign parameter based on atorque sign adjustment of the vehicle generator. For example, asdescribed above with regard to FIG. 3, the torque sign adjustment 330may be a rotation direction associated with at least one of the motoringmode and the generating mode of the generator (e.g., generator 105).

In step S440 the controller 200 determines an output parameter based onthe modified demand parameter, the speed parameter and the signparameter. For example, as described above with regard to FIG. 3, thecomputation module 325 may determine the forward torque controlparameter or command by multiplying the output of the product module 315by the torque sign adjustment 330 and divide the result by themechanical speed 330. The determined forward torque control parameter orcommand is then output by the feed forward module 225.

Returning to FIG. 2, the determined forward torque control parameter orcommand output by the feed forward module 225 is shown as T_(FF) whichis an input to the summing module 235.

PI Control

Typically dc bus voltage control is to feed dc bus voltage errordirectly into a PI controller to output a torque command. This controlstrategy functions well during moderate levels of dynamic load change.However, with more challenging load power dynamics, example embodimentsprovide an improved dc bus voltage control by using a voltage-squareerror in a voltage PI controller.

FIG. 5 illustrates a proportional integral (PI) control module 230according to at least one example embodiment. As shown in FIG. 5, theproportional integral (PI) control module 230 includes X² modules 505 aand 505 b, a difference module 510 and a voltage PI controller 515. Theproportional integral (PI) control module 230 may generate a feedback PIregulator parameter or command based on at least one of a referencevoltage and an actual voltage. The reference voltage 210 may be areference dc bus voltage. For example, the reference voltage 210 may bea desired voltage associated with dc bus 105. The actual voltage 220 maybe a current voltage or a determined (measured) voltage associated withthe dc bus. For example, the actual voltage 220 may be a dc voltagemeasured at dc bus 150 by a voltage sensor associated with the dualinverter 115.

The X² modules 505 a and 505 b may determine a parameter that isequivalent to a square of an input voltage. For example, X² module 505 amay determine a parameter that is the equivalent to the referencevoltage 210 squared. Further, the X² module 505 b may determine aparameter that is the equivalent to the actual or detected voltage 220squared.

The difference module 510 may determine an output parameter based on theoutput of the X² modules 505 a and 505 b. The output parameter may beknown as an error parameter or square error voltage. The differencemodule 510 may determine the error parameter by subtracting the outputof X² module 505 b (based on the actual or detected voltage 220) fromthe output of X² module 505 a (based on the reference voltage 210). Theerror parameter may be the input of the voltage PI controller 515.

The voltage PI controller 515 may generate the feedback PI regulatorparameter or command based on the error parameter. The voltage PIcontroller 515 may be a proportional gain in parallel with an integratorbased on a present error and an accumulation of past errors. Theproportional gain provides fast error response. The integrator drivesthe system to a 0 steady-state error. Electric power used to maintain adc bus voltage may be proportional to the vehicle generator shaft speed.For example, a relatively lower generator shaft speed may result inrelatively greater corresponding PI gains for the PI controller suchthat a same dc bus voltage control dynamic performance may be achievedat varying generator shaft speeds.

Example embodiments provide an improved dc bus voltage control by usinga voltage-square error in a voltage PI controller based on the followingequations:

$\begin{matrix}\begin{matrix}{T_{PI} = {\frac{1}{\omega_{gen}} \cdot \frac{\mathbb{d}E_{bus}}{\mathbb{d}t}}} \\{= {\left( {\frac{1}{2} \cdot C_{bus} \cdot \frac{1}{\omega_{gen}}} \right) \cdot \frac{\mathbb{d}V_{bus}^{2}}{\mathbb{d}t}}} \\{= {\frac{C_{bus}}{2\omega_{gen}} \cdot \frac{\mathbb{d}V_{bus}^{2}}{\mathbb{d}t}}}\end{matrix} & {{Equation}\mspace{14mu} 2}\end{matrix}$

-   -   where,    -   T_(PI) is the feedback PI regulator parameter or command,    -   E_(bus) is an energy stored in the dc bus,    -   ω_(gen) is a rotational speed of the generator,    -   V_(bus) is the dc bus voltage, and    -   C_(bus) is a dc bus capacitance.

If the generator rotational speed and the dc bus capacitance areconstants. From equation 1 the required output torque T_(PI) is theintegration of V_(bus) ².

The PI controller input error is defined by subtracting the measuredvalue from the reference value. For dc bus voltage control, if themeasured voltage is less than the voltage reference, voltage PI mayoutput braking torque to boost the bus voltage. On the other hand, ifthe measured voltage is higher than the voltage reference, voltage PImay output motoring torque to reduce the bus voltage. Because the signof the braking torque or the motoring torque depends on the generatorrotation direction, it may be desirable to adjust the sign of voltage PIerror input as summarized in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Voltage-square error ω_(generator) > 0 ω_(generator) < 0 V_(ref)² − V_(measure) ² > 0 Voltage PI Voltage Voltage PI Voltage needs to PIneeds needs to PI needs output negative output positive braking inputbraking input torque torque V_(ref) ² − V_(measure) ² < 0 Voltage PIVoltage Voltage PI Voltage needs to PI needs needs to PI needs outputpositive output negative motoring input motoring input torque torque

-   -   where,    -   ω_(generator) is a rotational speed of the generator,    -   V_(ref) ² is the dc bus voltage reference squared, and    -   V_(measure) ² is the measured dc bus voltage squared.

FIG. 6 illustrates a method of determining a PI control torque valueaccording to at least one example embodiment. The example embodimentdescribed below with regard to FIG. 6 is described with regard to FIGS.1, 2 and 5 above. However, example embodiments are not limited thereto.Further, the example embodiment described below refers to controller 200as illustrated in FIG. 2. However, example embodiments are not limitedthereto.

Referring to FIG. 6, in step S605 a controller 200 determines areference parameter based on a reference dc voltage squared. Forexample, as described above with regard to FIG. 4, reference voltage 210is input into X² module 405 a. X² module 405 a outputs a parameter thatis the equivalent to the reference voltage 210 squared. The parameteroutput from X² module 405 a may be the determined reference parameter.

Referring to FIG. 6, in step S610 the controller 200 determines acurrent or actual parameter based on a detected dc voltage squared. Forexample, as described above with regard to FIG. 4, actual voltage 220 isinput into X² module 405 b. X² module 405 b outputs a parameter that isthe equivalent to the actual voltage 220 squared. The parameter outputfrom X² module 405 b may be the determined actual parameter.

Referring to FIG. 6, in step S615 the controller 200 determines an errorparameter (square error voltage based on a mathematical function of thedetermined reference parameter and the determined actual parameter. Forexample, as described above with regard to FIG. 5, the output of X²module 505 a (e.g., the reference parameter) and the output of X² module505 b (e.g., the actual parameter) are inputs to the difference module510. The difference module 510 may determine the error parameter bysubtracting the output of X² module 505 b from the output of X² module505 a. Further, there may be a sign adjustment to the error parameter asshown above in Table 2.

In step S620 the controller 200 generates an output parameter based on aproportional integral (PI) control function and the error parameterafter proper sign adjustment. For example, as described above withregard to FIG. 5, the voltage PI controller 515 may generate thefeedback PI regulator parameter or command (output parameter) based onthe error parameter.

Returning to FIG. 2, the output of the voltage PI controller 230 (e.g.,the generated feedback PI regulator parameter or command) is shown asT_(PI) which is an input to the summing module 235.

Controlling Bus Based on PI Control and Feed Forward Control

As shown in FIG. 2, the summing module 235 receives inputs from the feedforward module 225 (e.g., T_(FF)) and the proportional integral (PI)control module 230 (e.g., T_(PI)). The summing module 235 may generate atorque value (the torque value may also be referred to as a torqueparameter or torque command) based on the inputs from the feed forwardmodule 225 and the proportional integral (PI) control module 230. Forexample, the summing module 235 may generate the torque value by summingthe input from the feed forward module 225 with the input from theproportional integral (PI) control module 230.

The torque limit module 240 may limit the generated torque value basedon a torque limit associated with a vehicle generator or vehicle motor.For example, the torque limit module 240 may limit the generated torquevalue based on a torque limit associated with generator 105. The limitedtorque value generated by the torque limit module 240 may be the torquevalue for the vehicle generator (e.g., generator 105) to control the dcbus voltage.

FIG. 7 illustrates a method of generating a torque value to control a dcbus voltage according to at least one example embodiment. The exampleembodiment described below with regard to FIG. 7 is described withregard to FIGS. 1 and 2 above. However, example embodiments are notlimited thereto. Further, the example embodiment described below refersto controller 200 as illustrated in FIG. 2. However, example embodimentsare not limited thereto.

Referring to FIG. 7, in step S705 a controller 200 generates a torquevalue for the vehicle generator based on output parameter A and onoutput parameter B. Output parameter A may be the output from step S440(e.g., T_(FF)) as described above with regard to FIG. 4. Outputparameter B may be the output from step S620 (e.g., T_(PI)) as describedabove with regard to FIG. 6.

For example, as described above with regard to FIG. 2, the summingmodule 235 may generate a torque value based on the inputs from the feedforward module 225 (e.g., T_(FF)) and the proportional integral (PI)control module 230 (e.g., T_(PI)). For example, the summing module 235may generate the torque value by summing the input from the feed forwardmodule 225 with the input from the proportional integral (PI) controlmodule 230. For example, the summing module 235 may generate a torquevalue based on the following equation:T _(S) =T _(FF) +T _(PI)

-   -   where,    -   T_(S) is the torque value,    -   T_(FF) is the forward torque control parameter or command, and    -   T_(PI) is the feedback PI regulator parameter or command.

Referring to FIG. 7, in step S710 the controller 200 limits the torquevalue based on a torque capability of a motoring mode and/or agenerating mode of the vehicle generator. For example, as describedabove with regard to FIG. 2, the torque limit module 240 may limit thegenerated torque value based on a torque limit associated with a vehiclegenerator or vehicle motor. The limited torque parameter or command isshown as T_(C).

For example, the torque limit module 240 may limit the generated torquevalue based on a torque limit associated with generator 105. Forexample, the torque limitation module 240 may clip the generated torquevalue if the generated torque value is above a set value. For example,assume generator 105 has a maximum torque rating of 50 N-m and a torquevalue of 10 volts is representative of 50 N-m. If the torque value is 15volts, the torque limitation module 240 may clip the torque value to 10volts.

In step 715 the controller 200 uses the limited torque value of thevehicle generator to control a dc bus voltage. For example, as describedabove with regard to FIG. 2, the limited torque value T_(C) generated bythe torque limit module 240 may be the torque value for the vehiclegenerator (e.g., generator 105) to control the dc bus voltage.

As described above, the diesel engine and the generator have anassociated controller. The controller receives a control signal (e.g., atorque control signal) to indicate a manner by which the controllershould be controlling the diesel engine and the generator. For example,the control signal may be a torque value that the generator is to be setto. By setting the generator to this torque value the generator controlsthe dc bus voltage to the desired voltage.

For example, the control signal may indicate a steady-state, anincreased demand or a decreased demand for the generator torque value.In this way the diesel engine and the generator regulate a desired dcbus voltage. There may be a comparison between the current torque valueand the torque control signal (e.g., controlled torque). If the torquecontrol signal stays constant (no difference as compared to the currenttorque value) no change in dc bus voltage occurs. However, if the valueof the torque control signal increases, the dc bus voltage may increaseand if the value of the torque control signal decreases, the dc busvoltage may decreases.

According to example embodiments, the limited torque value T_(C)generated by the torque limit module 240 may be the control signal usedby the controller associated with the diesel engine and the generator tocontrol dc bus (e.g., dc bus 150) voltage. For example, the limitedtorque value T_(C) generated by the torque limit module 240 may be aninput to the torque command generation module 805 described below withregard to FIG. 8.

System Controller

In accordance with an example embodiment, FIG. 8 discloses a system forcontrolling an IPM machine such as a motor 817 (e.g., an interiorpermanent magnet (IPM) motor) or another alternating current machine.The motor 817 has a nominal dc bus voltage (e.g., 320 Volts). Thenominal voltage is a named voltage. For example, a nominal voltage ofthe motor 817 may be 320 Volts, but the motor may operate at a voltageabove and below 320 Volts. In an example embodiment, the system, asidefrom the motor 817, may be referred to as an inverter or a motorcontroller. The system for controlling the motor 817 may also bereferred to as an IPM machine system.

The system includes electronic modules, software modules, or both. In anexample embodiment, the motor controller includes an electronic dataprocessing system 820 to support storing, processing or execution ofsoftware instructions of one or more software modules. The electronicdata processing system 820 is indicated by the dashed lines in FIG. 8and is shown in greater detail in FIG. 9. The electronic data processingsystem 820 may also be referred to as a controller for the motor 817.

The data processing system 820 is coupled to an inverter circuit 888.The inverter circuit 888 includes a semiconductor drive circuit thatdrives or controls switching semiconductors (e.g., insulated gatebipolar transistors (IGBT) or other power transistors) to output controlsignals for the motor 817. In turn, the inverter circuit 888 is coupledto the motor 817. The motor 817 is associated with a sensor 815 (e.g., aposition sensor, a resolver or encoder position sensor) that isassociated with the motor shaft 826 or the rotor. The sensor 815 and themotor 817 are coupled to the data processing system 820 to providefeedback data (e.g., current feedback data, such as phase current valuesia, ib and ic), raw position signals, among other possible feedback dataor signals, for example. Other possible feedback data includes, but isnot limited to, winding temperature readings, semiconductor temperaturereadings of the inverter circuit 888, three phase voltage data, or otherthermal or performance information for the motor 817.

In an example embodiment, a torque command generation module 805 iscoupled to a d-q axis current generation manager 809 (e.g., d-q axiscurrent generation look-up tables). The d-q axis current refers to thedirect axis current and the quadrature axis current as applicable in thecontext of vector-controlled alternating current machines, such as themotor 817. The output of the d-q axis current generation manager 809(d-q axis current commands iq_cmd and id_cmd) and the output of acurrent adjustment module 807 (e.g., d-q axis current adjustment module807) are fed to a summer 819. In turn, one or more outputs (e.g., directaxis current data (id*) and quadrature axis current data (iq*)) of thesummer 819 are provided or coupled to a current regulation controller811. While the term current command is used, it should be understoodthat current command refers to a target current value.

The current regulation controller 811 is capable of communicating withthe pulse-width modulation (PWM) generation module 812 (e.g., spacevector PWM generation module). The current regulation controller 811receives respective adjusted d-q axis current commands (e.g., id* andiq*) and actual d-q axis currents (e.g., id and iq) and outputscorresponding d-q axis voltage commands (e.g., vd* and vq* commands) forinput to the PWM generation module 812.

In an example embodiment, the PWM generation module 812 converts thedirect axis voltage and quadrature axis voltage data from two phase datarepresentations into three phase representations (e.g., three phasevoltage representations, such as va*, vb* and vc*) for control of themotor 817, for example. Outputs of the PWM generation module 812 arecoupled to the inverter circuit 888.

The inverter circuit 888 includes power electronics, such as switchingsemiconductors to generate, modify and control pulse-width modulatedsignals or other alternating current signals (e.g., pulse, square wave,sinusoidal, or other waveforms) applied to the motor 817. The PWMgeneration module 812 provides inputs to a driver stage within theinverter circuit 888. An output stage of the inverter circuit 888provides a pulse-width modulated voltage waveform or other voltagesignal for control of the motor 817. In an example embodiment, theinverter 888 is powered by a direct current (dc) voltage bus.

The motor 817 is associated with the sensor 815 (e.g., a resolver,encoder, speed sensor, or another position sensor or speed sensors) thatestimates at least one of an angular position of the motor shaft 826, aspeed or velocity of the motor shaft 826, and a direction of rotation ofthe motor shaft 826. The sensor 815 may be mounted on or integral withthe motor shaft 826. The output of the sensor 815 is capable ofcommunication with the primary processing module 814 (e.g., position andspeed processing module). In an example embodiment, the sensor 815 maybe coupled to an analog-to-digital converter (not shown) that convertsanalog raw position data or velocity data to digital raw position orvelocity data, respectively. In other example embodiments, the sensor815 (e.g., digital position encoder) may provide a digital data outputof raw position data or velocity data for the motor shaft 826 or rotor.

A first output (e.g., position data θ for the motor 817) of the primaryprocessing module 814 is communicated to the phase converter 813 (e.g.,three-phase to two-phase current Park transformation module) thatconverts respective three-phase digital representations of measuredcurrent into corresponding two-phase digital representations of measuredcurrent. A second output (e.g., speed data SD for the motor 817) of theprimary processing module 814 is communicated to the calculation module810 (e.g., adjusted voltage over speed ratio module).

An input of a sensing circuit 824 is coupled to terminals of the motor817 for sensing at least the measured three-phase currents and a voltagelevel of the direct current (dc) bus (e.g., high voltage dc bus whichmay provide dc power to the inverter circuit 888). An output of thesensing circuit 824 is coupled to an analog-to-digital converter 822 fordigitizing the output of the sensing circuit 824. In turn, the digitaloutput of the analog-to-digital converter 822 is coupled to thesecondary processing module 816 (e.g., dc bus voltage and three phasecurrent processing module). For example, the sensing circuit 824 isassociated with the motor 817 for measuring three phase currents (e.g.,current applied to the windings of the motor 817, back EMF(electromotive force) induced into the windings, or both).

Certain outputs of the primary processing module 814 and the secondaryprocessing module 816 feed the phase converter 813. For example, thephase converter 813 may apply a Park transformation or other conversionequations (e.g., certain conversion equations that are suitable areknown to those of ordinary skill in the art) to convert the measuredthree-phase representations of current into two-phase representations ofcurrent based on the digital three-phase current data ia, ib and ic fromthe secondary processing module 816 and position data θ from the sensor815. The output of the phase converter 813 module (id, iq) is coupled tothe current regulation controller 811.

Other outputs of the primary processing module 814 and the secondaryprocessing module 816 may be coupled to inputs of the calculation module810 (e.g., adjusted voltage over-speed ratio calculation module). Forexample, the primary processing module 814 may provide the speed data SD(e.g., motor shaft 826 speed in revolutions per minute), whereas thesecondary processing module 816 may provide a measured (detected) levelof the operating dc bus voltage Vdc of the motor 817 (e.g., on the dcbus of a vehicle). The dc voltage level on the dc bus that supplies theinverter circuit 888 with electrical energy may fluctuate or varybecause of various factors, including, but not limited to, ambienttemperature, battery condition, battery charge state, battery resistanceor reactance, fuel cell state (if applicable), motor load conditions,respective motor torque and corresponding operational speed, and vehicleelectrical loads (e.g., electrically driven air-conditioningcompressor). The calculation module 810 is connected as an intermediarybetween the secondary processing module 816 and the d-q axis currentgeneration manager 809. The output of the calculation module 810 canadjust or impact the current commands iq_cmd and id_cmd generated by thed-q axis current generation manager 809 to compensate for fluctuation orvariation in the dc bus voltage, among other things.

The rotor magnet temperature estimation module 804, the current shapingmodule 806, and the terminal voltage feedback module 808 are coupled toor are capable of communicating with the d-q axis current adjustmentmodule 807. In turn, the d-q axis current adjustment module 807 maycommunicate with the d-q axis current generation manager or the summer819.

The rotor magnet temperature estimation module 804 estimates ordetermines the temperature of the rotor permanent magnet or magnets. Inan example embodiment, the rotor magnet temperature estimation module804 may estimate the temperature of the rotor magnets from, one or moresensors located on the stator, in thermal communication with the stator,or secured to the housing of the motor 817.

In another example embodiment, the rotor magnet temperature estimationmodule 804 may be replaced with a temperature detector (e.g., athermistor and wireless transmitter like infrared thermal sensor)mounted on the rotor or the magnet, where the detector provides a signal(e.g., wireless signal) indicative of the temperature of the magnet ormagnets.

In an example embodiment, the method or system may operate in thefollowing manner. The torque command generation module 805 receives aninput control data message, such as a speed control data message, avoltage control data message, or a torque control data message, over avehicle data bus 818. The torque command generation module 805 convertsthe received input control message into torque control command dataT_cmd.

The d-q axis current generation manager 809 selects or determines thedirect axis current command and the quadrature axis current commandassociated with respective torque control command data and respectivedetected motor shaft 826 speed data SD. For example, the d-q axiscurrent generation manager 809 selects or determines the direct axiscurrent command and the quadrature axis current command by accessing oneor more of the following: (1) a look-up table, database or other datastructure that relates respective torque commands to correspondingdirect and quadrature axes currents, (2) a set of quadratic equations orlinear equations that relate respective torque commands to correspondingdirect and quadrature axes currents, or (3) a set of rules (e.g.,if-then rules) that relates respective torque commands to correspondingdirect and quadrature axes currents. The sensor 815 on the motor 817facilitates provision of the detected speed data SD for the motor shaft826, where the primary processing module 814 may convert raw positiondata provided by the sensor 815 into speed data SD.

The current adjustment module 807 (e.g., d-q axis current adjustmentmodule) provides current adjustment data to adjust the direct axiscurrent command id_cmd and the quadrature axis current command iq_cmdbased on input data from the rotor magnet temperature estimation module804, the current shaping module 806, and terminal voltage feedbackmodule 808.

The current shaping module 806 may determine a correction or preliminaryadjustment of the quadrature axis (q-axis) current command and thedirect axis (d-axis) current command based on one or more of thefollowing factors: torque load on the motor 817 and speed of the motor817, for example. The rotor magnet temperature estimation module 804 maygenerate a secondary adjustment of the q-axis current command and thed-axis current command based on an estimated change in rotortemperature, for example. The terminal voltage feedback module 808 mayprovide a third adjustment to d-axis and q-axis current based oncontroller voltage command versus voltage limit. The current adjustmentmodule 807 may provide an aggregate current adjustment that considersone or more of the following adjustments: a preliminary adjustment, asecondary adjustment, and a third adjustment.

In an example embodiment, the motor 817 may include an interiorpermanent magnet (IPM) machine or a synchronous IPM machine (IPMSM).

The sensor 815 (e.g., shaft or rotor speed detector) may include one ormore of the following: a direct current motor, an optical encoder, amagnetic field sensor (e.g., Hall Effect sensor), magneto-resistivesensor, and a resolver (e.g., a brushless resolver). In oneconfiguration, the sensor 815 includes a position sensor, where rawposition data and associated time data are processed to determine speedor velocity data for the motor shaft 826. In another configuration, thesensor 815 includes a speed sensor, or the combination of a speed sensorand an integrator to determine the position of the motor shaft.

In yet another configuration, the sensor 815 includes an auxiliary,compact direct current generator that is coupled mechanically to themotor shaft 826 of the motor 817 to determine speed of the motor shaft826, where the direct current generator produces an output voltageproportional to the rotational speed of the motor shaft 826. In stillanother configuration, the sensor 815 includes an optical encoder withan optical source that transmits a signal toward a rotating objectcoupled to the motor shaft 826 and receives a reflected or diffractedsignal at an optical detector, where the frequency of received signalpulses (e.g., square waves) may be proportional to a speed of the motorshaft 826. In an additional configuration, the sensor 815 includes aresolver with a first winding and a second winding, where the firstwinding is fed with an alternating current, where the voltage induced inthe second winding varies with the frequency of rotation of the rotor.

In FIG. 9, the electronic data processing system 820 includes anelectronic data processor 964, a data bus 962, a data storage device960, and one or more data ports (968, 970, 972, 974 and 976). The dataprocessor 964, the data storage device 960 and one or more data portsare coupled to the data bus 962 to support communications of databetween or among the data processor 964, the data storage device 960 andone or more data ports.

In an example embodiment, the data processor 964 may include anelectronic data processor, a microprocessor, a microcontroller, aprogrammable logic array, a logic circuit, an arithmetic logic unit, anapplication specific integrated circuit, a digital signal processor, aproportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller, or another dataprocessing device.

The data storage device 960 may include any magnetic, electronic, oroptical device for storing data. For example, the data storage device960 may include an electronic data storage device, an electronic memory,non-volatile electronic random access memory, one or more electronicdata registers, data latches, a magnetic disc drive, a hard disc drive,an optical disc drive, or the like.

As shown in FIG. 9, the data ports include a first data port 968, asecond data port 970, a third data port 972, a fourth data port 974 anda fifth data port 976, although any suitable number of data ports may beused. Each data port may include a transceiver and buffer memory, forexample. In an example embodiment, each data port may include any serialor parallel input/output port.

In an example embodiment as illustrated in FIG. 9, the first data port968 is coupled to the vehicle data bus 818. In turn, the vehicle databus 818 is coupled to a controller 966. In one configuration, the seconddata port 970 may be coupled to the inverter circuit 888; the third dataport 972 may be coupled to the sensor 815; the fourth data port 974 maybe coupled to the analog-to-digital converter 822; and the fifth dataport 976 may be coupled to the terminal voltage feedback module 808. Theanalog-to-digital converter 822 is coupled to the sensing circuit 824.

In an example embodiment of the data processing system 820, the torquecommand generation module 805 is associated with or supported by thefirst data port 968 of the electronic data processing system 820. Thefirst data port 968 may be coupled to a vehicle data bus 818, such as acontroller area network (CAN) data bus. The vehicle data bus 818 mayprovide data bus messages with torque commands to the torque commandgeneration module 805 via the first data port 968. The operator of avehicle may generate the torque commands via a user interface, such as athrottle, a pedal, the controller 966, or other control device.

In some example embodiments, the sensor 815 and the primary processingmodule 814 may be associated with or supported by a third data port 972of the data processing system 820.

Alternative embodiments of the invention may be implemented as acomputer program product for use with a computer system, the computerprogram product being, for example, a series of computer instructions,code segments or program segments stored on a tangible or non-transitorydata recording medium (computer readable medium), such as a diskette,CD-ROM, ROM, or fixed disk, or embodied in a computer data signal, thesignal being transmitted over a tangible medium or a wireless medium,for example, microwave or infrared. The series of computer instructions,code segments or program segments can constitute all or part of thefunctionality of the methods of example embodiments described above, andmay also be stored in any memory device, volatile or non-volatile, suchas semiconductor, magnetic, optical or other memory device.

While example embodiments have been particularly shown and described, itwill be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that variationsin form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spiritand scope of the claims.

The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same maybe varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as adeparture from the invention, and all such modifications are intended tobe included within the scope of the invention.

We claim:
 1. A method of controlling a vehicle dc bus voltage, themethod comprising: generating a first parameter based on a demandassociated with at least one of a motoring mode operation and agenerating mode operation of a motor associated with the vehicle, thedemand being indicated in a message received via a dedicated high speeddata bus; generating a second parameter, the second parameter beingbased on the first parameter and a usage coefficient; and controllingthe vehicle dc bus voltage based on the second parameter.
 2. The methodof claim 1, wherein the usage coefficient is based on at least one ofthe motor operating mode, the generator operating mode, a dc bus voltagelevel associated with the motor and a generator associated with thevehicle and a test performance indication associated with at least oneof the motor and the generator.
 3. The method of claim 2, comprising:generating a third parameter, the third parameter being based on thesecond parameter, a rotational shaft speed of one of the motoring modeoperation and the generating mode operation and a rotational directionof one of the motoring mode operation and the generating mode operation,wherein the controlling step includes controlling the vehicle dc busvoltage based on the third parameter.
 4. The method of claim 3,comprising: receiving a fourth parameter, the fourth parameter beingbased on a reference dc bus voltage and a detected dc bus voltage,wherein the controlling step includes controlling the bus voltage basedon the third and the fourth parameters.
 5. The method of claim 4,comprising: limiting a sum of the third parameter with the fourthparameter based on a torque limit associated with at least one of themotoring mode and the generating mode of the generator associated withthe vehicle, wherein the controlling step includes controlling thevehicle dc bus voltage based on the limited sum of the third parameterwith the fourth parameter.
 6. The method of claim 2, wherein the motoroperating mode is based on at least one of a load level of the motor, ashaft speed of the motor, the motoring mode operation of the motor andthe generating mode operation of the motor, and the generator operatingmode is based on at least one of a load level of the generator, a shaftspeed of the generator, the motoring mode operation of the generator andthe generating mode operation of the generator.
 7. The method of claim1, wherein the motor is a traction motor.
 8. The method of claim 1,wherein the dedicated high speed data bus provides communication betweena motor controller associated with the traction motor and a controllerfor a generator associated with the vehicle.
 9. The method of claim 1,comprising: limiting the first parameter based on a power limitassociated with at least one of the motoring mode operation and thegenerating mode operation of a generator associated with the vehicle,wherein the controlling step includes controlling the vehicle dc busvoltage based on the limited first parameter.
 10. The method of claim 1,wherein the dedicated high speed data bus is one of a high speedcontroller area network (CAN) bus, a serial peripheral interface (SPI)bus and an Ethernet bus.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein controllingthe vehicle bus voltage includes controlling a torque value associatedwith a generator to control the vehicle dc bus voltage.
 12. A system forcontrolling a vehicle dc bus voltage, the system comprising: acontroller configured to, generate a first parameter based on a powerdemand associated with at least one of a motoring mode operation and agenerating mode operation of a motor associated with the vehicle, thepower demand being indicated in a message received via a dedicated highspeed data bus, generate a second parameter, the second parameter beingbased on the first parameter and a usage coefficient, and control avehicle dc bus voltage using the second parameter.
 13. The system ofclaim 12, wherein the usage coefficient is based on at least one of themotor operating mode, a vehicle generator operating mode, a dc busvoltage level associated with at least one of the motor and thegenerator and a test performance indication associated with at least oneof the motor and the generator.
 14. The system of claim 13, wherein thecontroller is configured to, generate a third parameter, the thirdparameter being based on the second parameter, a rotational shaft speedof the generator and a rotational direction of a shaft associated withthe generator, and control the vehicle dc bus voltage based on the thirdparameter.
 15. The system of claim 14, wherein the controller isconfigured to, generate a fourth parameter, the fourth parameter beingbased on a reference dc bus voltage and a detected dc bus voltage, andcontrol the vehicle dc bus voltage is controlled based on the third andthe fourth parameters.
 16. The system of claim 15, wherein thecontroller is configured to, limit a sum of the third parameter with thefourth parameter based on a torque limit associated with at least one ofthe motoring mode operation and the generating mode operation of thegenerator, and control the vehicle dc bus voltage based on the limitedsum of the third parameter with the fourth parameter.
 17. The system ofclaim 16, wherein the controller is configured to, limit the firstparameter based on a power limit associated with at least one of amotoring mode operation and a generating mode operation of a generatorassociated with the vehicle, and control the vehicle dc bus voltage iscontrolled based on the limited first parameter.
 18. The system of claim16, wherein the dedicated high speed data bus is one of a high speedcontroller area network (CAN) bus, a serial peripheral interface (SPI)bus and an Ethernet bus.
 19. The system of claim 12, wherein the motoris a traction motor.
 20. The system of claim 12, wherein the controlleris configured to control a torque value associated with a generator tocontrol the vehicle dc bus voltage.